His (Personal) Assistant

PLANS

Annika somehow managed to reschedule and rearrange all of Shivaay's various meetings and appointments, although it somehow managed to eat up a large portion of the week. The rest of her work days she spent organizing the office and trying to ignore the persistently recurring memory of Shivaay's searing kiss the last time she'd seen him. She told herself firmly that she had been a fool, and that any more little lapses in judgement like that and she may as well turn in her two weeks notice. For Annika was certain that if she allowed herself to let him kiss her whenever the mood struck him it would undoubtedly lead to more, larger lapses in judgement on her part, and she would end up like the other women who allowed themselves to be used.

Yet, try as she might, she couldn't banish the flashes of the memory from cropping up at random intervals; the way he'd felt against her and the way he'd kissed her, the heady scent of his cologne and the mellowed whiskey flavour of his lips and tongue, and most frequently the way his cerulean eyes had burned her after he'd pulled back. Every time she relived one of these sensations, however much she longed to dwell on them, Annika instead reminded herself firmly that he was, in essence, her boss, and she wouldn't taint the professional relationship she had with him, even if she were interested. Sure, he was charming when it suited him and undoubtedly handsome, she mused, but he was also conceited and arrogant, and the girl knew he was capable of cruelty and ruthlessness. This is what she told herself firmly; that he was too cold, too snobbish, and she didn't really even like him that much, so there was no point in setting herself up for failure.

She emailed Shivaay his new schedule for when he came back, fully expecting a reply commenting on the busy life he would be leading to catch up for the unexpected absence, but to her confusion, the email she'd sent out remained without any response whatsoever. Worrying she may have upset him, she spent the weekend drawing up an alternative schedule for him, moving the most agreeable people around and praying she would be able to change their appointments yet again should he choose the revised version.

Shivaay arrived at six in the morning on the dot, looking as he ever did as he stepped off the elevator and held his hand out imperiously for coffee, which she'd had ready and supplied promptly, face inscrutable. Her stomach knotted with anxiety. "Did your urgent business turn out well?" she ventured softly as they strode into his office.

He looked pensive for a moment and then shrugged. "You might say that. It was accomplished, anyway." His tone was flat and deflected further questions, so Annika fell silent. "My first appointment is six-thirty with Malhotra from Department of Finance?" he asked.

A: "Yes, but I can sw-"

"Alright, let me know when he's here. That's everything for now, you can go." He waved a hand vaguely, shifting through his files to find something pertaining to his meeting, and she bit her lower lip. She had the distinct feeling Shivaay hadn't thought whatsoever about the kiss, and as she went to her own desk, she firmly told herself yet again to pretend it had never even happened.

When Malhotra arrived Annika got him settled in the conference room and poked her head into Shivaay's office. "Come in, close the door," he said briskly. Brow furrowing, Annika slipped inside, eased the door shut silently, and the next thing she knew, her boss had backed her up against it, mouth over hers, tongue pushing into her mouth. Shock froze her for an instant and then he pulled back. "You can still have your week off for Diwali, Annika," he said.

She could only blink at him, then nodded wordlessly still too stunned to speak. Had he really just-? "Your six-thirty is in the conference room," she murmured, and Shivaay grinned, his cunning eyes roving over her.

"Excellent. Thank you." She stood aside as he went out and slunk slowly back to her own desk, staring down at her day planner riddled with notes and appointments and reminders without seeing it.